Flipping through James Crabtree’s book, The Billionaire Raj , on the grossly unequal society India has produced after Independence and more so post liberalisation, I was reminded of my everyday encounters with the extremely privileged. Being stopped mid-street without a warning to make way for the car of a Very Important Person (read VIP) is a given almost every day if you happen to live in an area that houses Central government officials and must negotiate the power-paved roads of Lutyens Delhi to get to your office. Even though a year ago the government announced that it was doing away with the revolving red lights atop VIP cars, the use of the siren and the speed of the escort vehicles have only increased. But the wailing sirens and traffic snarls created by the movement of the rich and the powerful is only the tip of the story. The privileges that naturally flow to this class of the population are much, much more. They are assured of a constant power supply with rare outages, free flowing water, manicured lawns, garbage cleaning facilities and emergency help from the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) whenever the amenities are found wanting for some reason. But the same organisation does not extend similar courtesies to areas under its jurisdiction not frequented by the VIPs. Take, for instance, a commercial complex like Palika Bhavan — a place where the hoi polloi get their cars repaired, buy accessories, pay insurance or visit the bank. In contrast to the neatly maintained markets in Lutyen’s Delhi, this shopping area is strewn with garbage and filth scattered along the steps and corridors, making its access a veritable obstacle course. People who operate business here say that cleaning and maintenance rarely happen. Away from the main roads and the VIP glare, the slum areas in the vicinity sit cheek and jowl with mounds of uncollected garbage, providing many a glimpse of the not-so-Swachh-Bharat. It is the same story in the service lanes adjoining many a signature address in the national capital. What is it in our culture that rides on privileges, pomp and wealth? Perhaps, it’s a reflection of a fundamental flaw in our governance system which still believes that all places and people are equal, but some are more equal.

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